Hyderabad Liberation Day: VP Stresses Unity and Inclusion

GG News Bureau
Secunderabad, 17th Sept: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Thursday described September 17, 1948, as a decisive moment in the history of independent India, recalling the integration of the erstwhile Hyderabad State with the Indian Union.

Radhakrishnan was the Chief Guest at the 79th Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations at Parade Ground, Secunderabad, Telangana. The Ministry of Culture has been organising official commemorations of the day since 2022.

Addressing the gathering, the Vice-President said Hyderabad Liberation Day was not merely a commemoration of a historic date but also an occasion to reflect on India’s nation-building journey and the values that bind the country together.

Patel’s role in integration
Radhakrishnan recalled the contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Home Minister and Minister for States, in integrating princely states following Independence.

He said Patel carried a major responsibility at a time when India was dealing with the aftermath of Partition while also consolidating hundreds of princely states into the Union.

“Sardar Patel Ji laid the steely foundation of a strong, unified Ek Bharat,” the Vice-President said.

The Government of India has previously described Operation Polo as the military action that led to the integration of Hyderabad State with the Indian Union on September 17, 1948. The operation began on September 13 and concluded four days later.

Tribute to Hyderabad’s freedom fighters
The Vice-President paid tribute to those who participated in the movement associated with Hyderabad’s integration, including Ramji Gond, Turrebaz Khan and Komaram Bheem.

He said students, intellectuals, writers, social workers, political activists, farmers and ordinary citizens also played roles in the struggle and endured imprisonment, violence and personal hardship.

Radhakrishnan said these contributions demonstrated that history was shaped not only by prominent leaders but also by ordinary citizens who resisted injustice.

Government records on Hyderabad Liberation Day have similarly highlighted the participation of people from across the erstwhile Hyderabad State and the contributions of several lesser-known figures.

‘Integration must lead to inclusion’
Linking the historical episode to India’s constitutional framework, Radhakrishnan said territorial integration was only one part of the larger nation-building process.

“Political integration can bring territories together; constitutional democracy brings citizens together,” he said.

The Vice-President emphasised that India’s unity does not require uniformity. Citizens may speak different languages, follow different traditions and hold different political views while remaining united by the Constitution and the principle of equal citizenship.

He said national unity must therefore be reinforced through equal rights, equal dignity and equal opportunity.

CAPFs’ contribution acknowledged
Radhakrishnan also acknowledged the contribution of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to the integration of princely states and the safeguarding of India’s territorial integrity during the early years after Independence.

He also referred to their role in countering Left-Wing Extremism in Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and other affected regions.

At the event, the Vice-President visited the War Memorial and laid a wreath in honour of the bravehearts. He also inspected the parade and witnessed the March Past and cultural performances.

The Ministry of Culture had announced that the September 17 programme would be held at Secunderabad Parade Ground with Radhakrishnan as Chief Guest. Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar were among the dignitaries scheduled to attend.

Radhakrishnan said the legacy of Hyderabad should serve as a reminder that integration must lead to inclusion, while patriotism should ultimately find expression through service to the nation.